KENTVILLE, NS - An RCMP officer accused of committing a sexual assault in Auburn while he was posted to Bridgetown more than two decades ago has changed his election to provincial court.

A preliminary inquiry was held for Const. Charles Kwatei Quartey, 59, of Inuvik, Northwest Territiories, in Kentville on May 28. He had elected trial by Supreme Court judge alone in December 2016.

A publication ban was granted for evidence given at the preliminary inquiry. It was determined that there is sufficient evidence for a committal to Supreme Court. With the consent of the Crown, the defence filed notice of re-election to provincial court. The matter has been adjourned to Dec. 17 and 19 for trial.

A publication ban protects the identity of the alleged victim. It’s alleged that Quartey committed the offence in Auburn between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 1995. The historic sexual assault charge has not been proven in court.

The RCMP’s Southwest Nova Major Crime Unit laid the charge against Quartey in July 2016. While dealing with an unrelated matter in July 2015, information came forward to RCMP members that Quartey had sexually assaulted a woman while posted to the Bridgetown detachment in 1995.

The charge relates to Quartey’s conduct with a woman he met during the course of his duties as a police officer.

Quartey, who is posted to the Northwest Territories, was placed on administrative duties in November 2015 and has been suspended from duty since June 17, 2016.

According to a news release issued by the RCMP after the charge was laid, Quartey will remain off duty until the criminal charge against him is resolved, when his duty status will be reviewed. Two internal Code of Conduct investigations were undertaken in relation to Quartey’s conduct.

Quartey, who has been with the RCMP for 25 years, was assigned to the Northwest Territories Relief Unit since July 2014.